`Miss Saigon` Production Broadway-bound Again

The $10 million musical will open in New York on April 11, after previews that begin March 23. And Jonathan Pryce will re-create his London role as a Eurasian character, the engineer.

The Broadway production was canceled in August after producer Cameron Mackintosh rejected an initial decision by Actors` Equity to veto his casting of Pryce. That Equity action, taken in response to Asian-American activists who believed that an Asian should have the role, led to massive criticism from Equity members and others, who called it a violation of artistic freedom and an abuse of Equity`s right to veto casting of foreign actors who are not considered stars.

In response to the critics, Equity`s council reversed its decision last month.

Mackintosh still refused to reinstate the production, however, until he was assured of a free hand in the casting of other roles in the production. For more than a week, he has met with Equity officials in New York in an attempt to negotiate an agreement.

In a joint statement on Monday, Mackintosh and Equity announced only ``that they have reached a mutually satisfactory accord on the principles of casting`` the Broadway production -- without listing the details of that accord.

Mackintosh reportedly won permission to use two Asian actors in the Broadway production for one year. But he was said to have agreed to ask for permission if he wants to import Lea Salonga, a Filipino who created the title role in London.

``I`m surprised they allow union-busting,`` said Dominic Falletta, producing associate at the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre in New York.

If the reported details are true, said Kim Miyori, the former St. Elsewhere star, ``it`s very dangerous from a union point of view to have a special relationship with any one producer.``

``I`m disappointed that they`ve allowed him to use British Asian actors when there are so many Asian-American actors,`` said Ernest Harada, outgoing president of the Association of Asian-Pacific Artists in America, based in Los Angeles.

However, Mary Lou Westerfield, an Equity vice president, said that the agreement ``will give a lot of people a lot of jobs for a long time.``

The production is expected to employ 50 Equity members and many more as replacements and in future tours.

``There is no doubt there will be continuing protests,`` said Stewart Kwoh, an attorney with the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. Asked if that means picket lines when the production opens, he replied, ``My guess is that it will ...``

Meanwhile, Mackintosh`s representatives confirmed that they still intend to meet with Asian-American activists in Los Angeles. A meeting had been scheduled for Tuesday but was canceled after the Mackintosh-Equity talks were prolonged.